Industrial hygienic study on nursing activities. II. Investigation on heart rate and energy expenditure of ward nurses on shift

Abstract

By using a Holter electrocardiograph (ECG), we calculated the heart rates of ward nurses on day shift which included different activities. Energy expenditure was calculated from the heart rate data and nurse work load was evaluated. The following results were obtained. 1) Average heart rates during working hours were 86 (beats/min) in children ward nurses, 77 in ophthalmology ward nurses, 85 in surgery ward nurses, 85 in mixed ward nurses, 85 in neurosurgery ward nurses, 81 in circulatory organs ward nurses and 83 in ICU ward nurses. 2) The energy expenditures were calculated to be 1,891 kcal in children ward nurse on day shift, 1,866 kcal in ophthalmology ward nurses, 1,969 kcal in surgery ward nurses, 1,899 kcal in mixed ward nurses, 1,976 kcal in neurosurgery ward nurses, 1,873 kcal in circulatory organs ward nurses and 1,744 kcal in ICU ward nurses. 3) The highest energy expenditures in direct nursing care were 918 kcal (48.3%) in mixed ward nurses; in assisting medical examination and treatment, 770 kcal (39.1%) in surgery ward nurses and in indirect nursing care, 679 kcal (35.9%) in children ward nurses. 4) The longest working hours in direct nursing care were 217 min (42.5%) in neurosurgery ward nurses; in assisting medical examination and treatment, 193 min (37.8%) in surgical ward nurses and in indirect nursing care, 207 min (40.5%) in children word nurses. The results indicated that the energy expenditure calculated from the average heart rate of ward nurses on day shift was very high in all wards. The attributable causes are discussed in this report.